As Simple As Love: Allenby Romance Series, #6

By Vicki Connellan

Is love ever simple? For Kane and Tasha it doesn't seem that way. When Kane becomes engaged to Tasha’s best friend, they’re both forced into some life changing moments. For Tasha, the heartbreak is worse, and this leads her to make some radical changes in her life. But can a new town and a new baby be the answer?

All Kane wants is to be happy. He wants to find the perfect girl for him, marry, have a few kids and settle down into a happy life. But what happens when he realises he’s doing all of that with the wrong woman? Is it too late for him to make things right?

As Simple as Love is book six in the Allenby Romance Series, a short, sweet, humorous story to tide you over until book seven is released.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vicki Connellan
• Release date: May 5, 2017
• ISBN: 9780648053125

Vicki Connellan

Vicki was born in Orange, NSW. When she was two years old her family moved to Dapto, a southern suburb of Wollongong. She was kicked out of pre-school at the age of four (for reasons that she will keep to herself).   When she was sixteen she moved with her parents and two sisters (Vicki is the typically misunderstood middle child) to the ACT where, ironically she studied Child Care so she could work in a pre-school. Now, at the age of 45 she still lives in Canberra with her husband and three adult/teenage children.   Vicki works full time (not in the child care industry!) and is an avid baker. She spends her time taxiing her kids around and baking cup cakes for all the kids who constantly fill the house.    Vicki has always enjoyed writing and is now taking the time to put her stories to print.  You can contact Vicki via email at [e-mail] with any questions or  feedback on her book.  If you enjoyed the book please take the time to leave a quick review. 

Book preview

Chapter 1

Tash

This week had been beyond unbearable. Well, maybe not beyond unbearable, that may have been a slight exaggeration, but one thing was for sure, things were only going to get worse from here on in. They’d set a date for the wedding, and now it was all I heard about. I wanted to curl up in a little ball and die when Kane and Anna walked into the pub last month and announced their engagement. In my heart, I knew I was never going to have the man that I loved, the man that I’d fallen madly, deeply, in love with when we first met three years ago. Now he was engaged to my best friend Anna, and there was nothing I could do but keep my mouth shut, weather the storm, and hope to hell that my heart came out the other side of this wedding nightmare in one piece. This outcome was highly doubtful though. I was already picking up the pieces and shoving them back into place. I was sure that come the end of November, this little heart shaped jigsaw puzzle was going to be missing more than an edge piece or two.

It had always been this way with Anna and I. I’d have my eye on a guy, then Anna would swoop in and claim him as her own. It had been happening since the second grade when I had my first crush. Michael Stobrie. His parents were the caretakers of the local swimming pool, and he was like a little eight-year-old bronzed god. He had sparkly blue eyes and wavy blond hair. Being my first crush, I had no idea what was going on. I’d never felt such things for a boy before, and as soon as I told Anna that I was in love with him, she had to have him. Back then, that set the pattern for our relationship, and nothing had changed since. Only this time, I hadn't told her that I was in love with Kane, I hadn't told anyone, not even the man himself.

I grabbed my little bag of tricks, as I liked to call it, washed back this morning’s meds, then tossed the pouch into my backpack, grabbed my helmet, and headed out. The second grade was also the year I was diagnosed with my condition. Something that Anna later told me she thought I was faking just to get Michael to like me instead of her. I didn't even know what Addison’s disease was, let alone how to fake it. I was eight years old, I didn't know that I had an adrenal gland, or that it was supposed to produce cortisol and aldosterone, a job that apparently was beneath my adrenal gland, so it decided to protest and stop working. Hence, twice daily medication, and the need to carry my little bag of tricks everywhere I went. I’d only ever had four Addisonian episodes in my time, and I didn't want a fifth. I’d become pretty good at managing my condition, so much so that only my closest friends and my co-workers were aware of it. Kane had been my field partner for the past three years, and he insisted on carrying vials of hydrocortisone in his pack when we went bush for any length of time, which was something that pissed Anna off to no end. Not that she’d tell Kane that, she only told me. She was supposed to be my best friend, you’d think she’d be happy that he cared about my wellbeing, but she wasn’t.

I looked at the envelope in my hand as I pulled up in front of Nat’s Bakery. I’d been writing to Frankie and Fearless for the past month. Since Anna and Kane announced their engagement actually. Frankie and Fearless wrote an advice column in the regional paper. Some people thought she was cynical and sarcastic, but I liked her. She dished out good old-fashioned honest advice to those who couldn't see things clearly, and right now, that was me. Of course, I never signed my real name to any of the letters, just like I hadn't with the one in my hand right now. The newspaper was regional, so it covered the town of Bathurst, and all towns in a one hundred kilometre radius, including Allenby, but I still didn't want anyone to know the letters were from me.

After depositing the letter into the mailbox, I headed into Nat’s for some pastries and coffee. I grabbed my usual order, two large double shot extra hot coffees to go, two vanilla slices, and two meat pies. How Kane could eat a pie at seven in the morning was beyond me, but who was I to judge, it was his stomach, and his waistline. And a damn fine waistline it was. The man was ripped. Not only was our job physically demanding, but he worked out as well. If he wasn’t out running, he was in the gym that he had set up in my garage along side his drum kit. Playing that gave him a fair work out too, something I knew from the times that I’d sat there and bashed away at the thing in frustration. I was a pretty shit drummer, but it was a great anger management tool, and it was one that Anna didn't like to have at her house, so when Kane moved in with her, his drum kit and gym gear took up residence in my second garage. I lived on a couple of acres just out of town, so it was perfect for drumming, as it didn't disturb any of the neighbours.

By the time I pulled into the depot, it was just after seven and there were only three other cars here, both the ranger trucks and Kane’s jeep. Barnaby came running as soon as I turned off my bike, and I bent to give him a pat. Hey Barney boy, how’s my favourite dog? I ruffled his ears as he wagged his tail at a hundred miles an hour. When he sat back and looked up at me with wide eyes I had to laugh. Yes I bought you a pie, I started walking towards the depot office and he followed. Come on, come and get your pie, he bounded up the steps beside me. Where’s that grouchy owner of yours? I was looking down at the dog when I opened the door.

Who are you calling grouchy? Kane looked at me from his desk.

You, I looked at him. Who else sends someone a text at six thirty in the morning complaining that there’s no coffee in the house? I put the large coffee, a vanilla slice, and a pie on his desk , then put the other pie into Barnaby’s food dish. There you go boy, take more than one bite okay, don't woof it all down in one go, I patted his rump.

Kane shook his head at me as he bit into his own pie. You’re spoiling him, you know it’s not good for him to eat those.

It’s not good for you either but you eat them, so why shouldn’t he get them as a treat too? I sat at my desk and took the lid off my coffee, dumping in an extra couple of sugars. Are we heading up to Milligan’s Gap today?

Yes Boo, we are, Kane had been calling me Boo since we were first partnered up three years ago. It started out as Boo Boo, after I called him Yogi Bear one time. He said that if he was Yogi, then I was his offsider, Boo Boo. Over the years, he’d shortened it to Boo, and the nickname had stuck, but just like he was the only one to call me Tasha, he was the only one to call me Boo. I reached over as he handed me the latest tracking information. A few months ago, we’d tagged a Mountain Pygmy-possum, an unusual find so far from Kosciusko National Park. She’s been stagnant for the past few days, he finished off his pie and threw the paper bag and little foil dish into the bin. I think she’s found her nest for the winter.

I looked at the tracking information and the topographical map. Looks like an overnight trip, a day to hike in, then a day back, I handed the manila folder back to Kane and smiled. I shouldn’t be happy that this would piss Anna off, but I couldn't help it. She had a jealous streak a mile wide when it came to Kane and I. She just couldn't accept the fact that we were friends as well as work colleagues. Of course, I wanted more than friendship, but I would never act on those feelings, not while he was with her. That wasn’t my style. She might have stolen men from me all the time, but I didn't operate that way, no matter how much I loved the man sitting beside me now. I’ve already put my pack in the truck, I threw my empty coffee cup in the bin. What time are we heading off?

How does nine sound? he looked at his watch, then at me. I need to finish off this paperwork then we can get going, Kane looked over at me. And Anna asked if you could give her a call, something about a wedding planning night.

I rolled my eyes and tried to stop the audible groan before it escaped my lips, but I failed. Nine’s good, I made no reference to calling Anna, instead I stood to go and patted my leg so Barnaby followed. Let’s go check the koala’s boy. I needed to keep my reactions in check. Kane was a good friend, and even though I wanted more with him, it was never going to happen. If I didn't watch it, I’d end up with nothing, not even friendship. Come on Barn, I called him back to my side when he wandered across the depot. He was a very obedient dog, specifically trained to sniff out endangered species and native wildlife. Kane had been his primary handler since before he was transferred to Allenby, and I’d fallen in love with the dog almost as fast as I’d fallen for the man himself. If it wasn’t for Barnaby, we never would have found the mountain pygmy-possum, and by that act alone, he’d become a star around here.

I spent more time than necessary checking on the koalas, then moved my bike to the machinery shed before heading back into the office. You ready? I grabbed a set of keys from the wall and looked at Kane.

Give me two minutes, just need to let Anna know that we’ll be gone overnight, as soon as he pulled out his phone I headed for the door. The last thing I needed was to hear their lovey-dovey conversation.

Come on Barn, we’ll go wait in the truck, as soon as I opened the door the dog took off towards the truck. He was as keen to get going as I was. As I climbed up into the drivers seat, I thought how Kane preferred to drive, and usually I’d let him, but not today. Today I wasn’t in the mood to go with the flow. Today I felt like pushing back. Today I felt like grabbing that man by the shirt collars and shaking the living hell out of him while I asked him what the hell he was doing with her. I know she’s my best friend, but that doesn't mean she’s a good person, and it didn't mean that she was the right person for him. The right person for him was me. I could make him happy, and I knew for sure that he could make me happy. We were good together. But all of that was just in my head. There was no way that I was going to tell him how I felt, and there was no way that I was going to tell him that marrying Anna was not the right thing for him to do. He was happy, and I wasn’t about to ruin that for him.

––––––––

By the time I stopped the truck at the edge of the park, as far as the four-wheel drive track allowed us to go, it was just after ten in the morning. Come on old man, at this rate it’ll be dark before you even have that pack on your back, I waited at the edge of the trail for him.

Kane closed the tailgate on the truck, pushed the button to lock up our ride, and then started towards me. Do you have your meds? He asked me that every time we set out for a hike or an overnight trip.

Yes mum, and I’ve already taken this mornings, I rolled my eyes at him and shook my head.

What’s got you in such a bad mood today? he fell into step behind me as we headed up the trail. And not just today, you’ve been as snappy as anything for the past few weeks.

I’m not in a mood, and I haven’t been snappy, I sucked in a deep breath and kept my eyes front. I couldn't look back at him, because he was right. I was in a mood and I had been snappy, but I couldn't tell him why. I’d never tell him why.

Bullshit Tasha, I could hear the concern in his voice. He was the only person to call me Tasha, now that my dad was gone. To everyone else I was Natasha or Tash. I kind of liked that he was the only one to call me that now. You know you can talk to me if something’s bothering you, as your work colleague, and as your friend, I'm here for you.

Maybe I do have my cranky pants on today, but I happen to think they make my butt look amazing, I wiggled my butt at him and kept walking without turning back, and Kane let out a little laugh. I’d rather not talk about it. I left it at that.

Maybe one day I’ll get you blind rotten drunk and you’ll tell me what’s bothering you, the path widened a little and he took an extra two strides to catch up to me. Maybe next month when we’re in Sydney, he shoulder bumped me. After four days of mandatory training on things that we already know, he put his arm around me and pulled me into his side. You know you’ll be ready for a drink, or ten, he laughed and dropped his hand from my shoulder.

Yeah, about that trip, the path narrowed so I stopped and let him go ahead of me. Maybe you should go with Phil, and I’ll go with Russell.

For the past three years, Kane and I had done all of our work trips together. All of our training courses, our field trips, our visits to other national parks, we were a team, partners. He stopped walking and turned to look at me. Why would we do that? When I just shrugged, he raised his eyebrows at me. It was a little infuriating how the man could read me so well. I’ve already told Anna about the trip, and she’s fine with it, so if that’s why you're suggesting we go separately don't worry about it. She knows that we’re just work colleagues, and friends. And with those words he put my heart right back into it’s box.

Okay, I nodded and motioned for him to keep walking. Kane and I had been friends for three years, and because Anna was in her final year of university in Sydney when he and I met, I’d managed to keep him to myself for the first year before introducing him to Anna. I think all along she’s known I had a thing for Kane. I’ve never said anything to her about it, but we’ve been friends for so long, and she could read me just as well as Kane could, she had to know. I didn't want anything to ruin our friendship, especially not Anna, only I had a feeling that her ultimate goal was to drive a wedge between us. Truth was, since she and Kane started dating two